Make Your Own Big Knitting Needles DIY Tutorial

Sorry about the blog silence over here... I was without a computer for too long. Buuut I'm baaack! :) With a tutorial on how to make your own extra large knitting needles (for suuper cheap)! 

Or maaaybe I should say... how to have your wonderful husband make you some extra large knitting needles!?

I picked up two 12" x 1" dowel rods from the craft store, and took a piece of a 1.5" wood from our wood pile.

Mr. Liv cut them to points on his lathe...

and then sanded the dickens out of them. On his lathe.

My little brother cut me two discs off the end of the small log with the band saw.

Drill a small hole through the disc and into the needle. Dab some wood glue on the end. Plop the disc on top, and hammer a finish nail into the end.

Then I rubbed coconut oil into the needles with a rag. I let them sit a while, and then rubbed in a bunch more.

Then I got to work making a chunky cowl scarf. So. fun.

The needles costed me $.85 total!!!
Can't beat that!

Thank you Mr. Liv and Lil Bro, for your expert skills in the shop! 

Thanks for reading!! :)

Sylvie

P.S. You can buy a cowl like this one here, in our shop. 

Winter Here In Michigan

It's quite the blustery winter here in Michigan.

I think its beautiful.

But it still seems like all winter we hold our breath, just waiting for springtime. But its not all bad. It is cozy in this warm house. There is no better time for hot soup and warm bread sticks. The fun of pairing scarves with hats and coats with mittens is something I look forward to in those warm summer months. The yard maintenance is minimal now. The kids go to bed better in the dark. Fluffy blankets, chunky sweaters, spice tea, and tall boots.

Its not all bad my dears. Its not all bad.

Sylvie

DIY Copycat Girl's Dress Tutorial For FREE!

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Check out this knock off dress I made!! 

The dress pictured on the left is a Chloe dress found here.

I most definitely can't spend $135 on a dress for a preschooler so  I made it... with stuff I had! 

I repurposed an old sweatshirt into a Chloe look alike dress!

And I'm pleased. It took 1-2 hrs. Here is what I did:

Find s dress with similar fabric stretchiness to use as a pattern.

Cut the sides of the sweatshirt up to a couple inches below the armpits.

Use the length from the inside of the neck to the sleeve end to get your sleeve size- as shown:

Cut the cuffs off- to use. You should have something like this:

Cut the cuff pieces open.

Open the sleeve, and place the cuff on top- right sides together.

Start pinning in the center and then bunch the edges inward

as you pin the sides together.

Sew/ serge the cuff onto the sleeve. Pull the layers tight while sewing so they line up- gathering the sleeve piece slightly.

Turn the whole situation inside out and pin the sleeves and sides.

Sew/ serge along the pins.

I drafted my own pattern for a Peter Pan collar that is not attached.

 It just ties in the back. (That's a whole separate tutorial... should I write one for ya?)

I used fabric from my stash for the collar.

I think I want one for myself! My daughter's closet is much cuter than mine these days. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Sylv

DIY Moccasin Slippers For the Kids!

 My latest therapy has been making little moccs for my little ones!

I used the Lil Papoose Moccasin Pattern, and a couple old leather coats.

For the brown pair on the left, I modified the front toe piece. I widened it, added a triangle fringe down the front, and I shortened the side fringes a little.

These are so fun! If I get a chance to make more I'll share them with ya'll for sure!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sylvie

Best Crepe (Filling) Recipe EVER!!!

Today I made the best crepes ever ever ever. 

I had to run and grab by camera right straight so I could show you guys!

I've never had more flavorful ones, really!

Best Crepe Filling Ever 

Ingredients:

Your favorite crepe recipe

2 cups Brussels Sprouts; chopped

1/2 lb Bacon; cut up

6 White Mushrooms; chopped

1 Clove Garlic; chopped

Salt & Pepper to taste

Cheddar & Mozzarella Cheeses; chopped

Method:

Mix up the sprouts, bacon, mushrooms, garlic, and salt and pepper and fry in pan until bacon is cooked and sprouts are getting limp.

Cook your crepe, add fried mixture and cheese, fold your crepe over twice, and enjoy!

The filling is what made them so so good!

I am pretty sure you could use any recipe for the crepes and it would be good!

Mmmm.... I'm going to make more tomorrow.

Sylvie

DIY Geometric Paper Diamond Modern Baby Mobile Tutorial

Little baby Liv loves staring at this mobile. Sometimes at nap time, I twist the cord and make it spin. It's a brilliant distraction while I dart out of the room! 

Want to make one for your little one? Here's what I did...

For the diamonds, I used this tutorial from Design and Form. 

 

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For the top/ hoop part of the mobile I used this tutorial from See Kate Sew. (And replaced the triangles with diamonds!)

It makes for a very cheap and darling mobile! I w
ould hang it up in my house even if I didn't have a baby! You can read more about this little baby nook in this post here.

You guys are awesome! Have a good weekend!
Sylvie

Decorating On A Budget... Dining Room

Today I continue to bring home my ABM House Tour, 
and share all the details with you- my lovely readers!
Our home has been furnished and decorated on a very tight budget.
Its half the fun for me; to be able to find things I love without spending our life savings. :) 
So I will share where I got everything and how much it cost, 
to show that it doesn't cost a fortune to have lovely things! 
Enjoy! :) 

Today let's talk about the dining room!

Side Table: Garage Sale- $5

Mantle: Garage Sale- $8

Stool: Garage Sale- $5

Boon High Chair: Amazon- $205

Napkin Holder: Ikea- $5

Vase w/ Lavender(fr Mom): Thrifted- $2

Wire Basket: Gift from Mom- $0

Pink Birds: Gift From Mom- $0

Framed Map: Made By Me w/ stuff I had- $0

Silver Music Sheet: Garage Sale- $1

Girl Drawing: Made by Friend- $0

Candle Holder: Garage Sale- $0.50

Borrowed Paint From A Friend- $0

White Geometric Balls in Basket: Thrifted- $2/ea

I borrowed a couple cans of paint from a friend, and taped and painted the triangles myself. My inspiration was these pics here. 

Dining Rm Table: Consignment Shop- $60

Dining Room Benches: Given to us from our church- $0

Lamp Shade Light: Pottery Barn Outlet- $5!

Chairs: Thrifted- $5/ea

Large Map: Belongs to my Mom- $0

Quart of Chalkboard Paint on Side Wall: Home Depot- $12

Paint for Dining Set: Home Depot- $50

I re did my dining room set myself, turning a dark and drab set into a fun and bright spot in the room! I also painted the small metal stool. The mint color was borrowed from a friend. If you are looking for something in particular, ask around! You never know what might be in your friends storage. :)

Sooo, everything you see in these here dining room pics cost me a grand total of $367.50!! 

Like I said before...

 I had to wait for each piece. For a few years I had a table that I really didn't like, and a pile of wobbly mismatched chairs. But it was worth the wait! The set we have now is perfect for our growing family, and all of the company we always have!

Thanks for reading!!

Sylv

Lovely Christmas Giveaway! NOW CLOSED

As a thank you to all of you- my lovely readers, I have two Christmas giveaways for you! 

There will be two winners. The first winner will receive a set of three wall flowers made by me! Second winner will receive two Christmas stockings made by me, from old coffee bags (the middle one and left one in the pic)! 

To enter to win, just follow this here blog (over on the right there), and then leave a comment telling me about your favorite Christmas memory. The entrant with the most memorable/amusing/interesting comment wins! No essay required. 

Giveaway is open to US residents only. Giveaway is open until Saturday, December 21st 2013, and the winners will be chosen by me and announced here in this post shortly after. 

I can't wait to read your comments! :)

Sylvie

++Update++Thank you all who entered! I really enjoyed reading your comments. The winners are Carrie and Shannon Christine. Winners please contact me with your addresses, and I will have your package on its way soon! :) 

Decorate On A Budget... Living Room

Today I continue to bring home my ABM House Tour, 
and share all the details with you- my lovely readers!
Our home has been furnished and decorated on a very tight budget.
Its half the fun for me; to be able to find things I love without spending our life savings. :) 
So I will share where I got everything and how much it cost, 
to show that it doesn't cost a fortune to have lovely things! 
Enjoy! :) 

Today let's talk about the living room!
Vintage Couch: Thrift Store with coupon- $12.50
Vintage Doily: Grandma's Craft Rm- $0
Fabric Bird Decals: Made by me- $6.49
2 Curtain Rods: Target Clearance- $14/each
4 Curtains: Made From Target Clearance Flat Sheets- $4/each
Throw Blanket: TJMaxx- $16
Cream Pillow: Thrift Store- $3
Plus Pillow: Made By Me Using Scraps- $0

I watched clearance racks for a while for extra long flat sheets to make into curtains. I was pleased to find them for $4 each! They were more white, and I slightly dyed them with tea. Then I just folded the top over, and sewed one straight line for a curtain rod to go through. I love them! 
I also love how my doily from Grandma adds texture and interest to the space above my couch. For so cheap!! 
P.S. The book (A Long Piece Of String) and the toy (Sophie The Giraffe) are both from Amazon. 

Bramin Rocking Chair: Garage Sale- $10!!!
Natuzzi Loveseat: From my Aunt- $100
White Pillow: Made by me from an old sheet- $0
Lamp: Made by Mr. Liv- $11
Basket: Gift from Aunt- $0
Grey Throw: Thrifted- $2
Coral & White Throw: Gift from Mum- $0
Clock: Wedding Gift- $0
White Branch Decor: Thrifted- $4
Hourglass: Home Goods- $7
Lil Mushroom: Traded at Craft Sale- $0
Fireplace Update: By Mr. Liv- $13
Fireplace cage thingy: Target clearance- $15
Wall Dots: Made by me- $2

Can you believe I got that rocker for $10!!! My lovely Mum found it for me at a garage sale. You can find similar ones on Etsy. This one here is very similar. My brother redid the underside of the seat for me using seatbelts from an old torn apart car. 
Mr. Liv made the lamp using an old lamp like this one. I found some wood balls at a garage sale, he drilled holes in them, shortened the lamp, stacked the balls onto it, painted it, added a Target clearance shade and tada!! 
Our fireplace was originally outdated brick. Mr. Liv covered it with concrete grout, just using a trowel. Then I painted it with paint I had chilling in the basement. The lines you see are just spaces that he left with no grout to make it look sorta like its three slabs of rock. Kinda. ;)
P.S. The toy arrow is made by me, and the toy wood duck was thrifted.

Coffee Table: Dad made in High School!-$0
Mirror: Garage Sale-$10
Wall Flowers: Made by me- $0
Basket: Consignment shop- $16
Fuzzy Blanket: (Hawaii!!) Kmart- $20
Doily Throw: Gift from Mum- $0
Grey Tray: Consignment shop- $1
Wood Bowl: Consignment Shop- $1
Little Porcelain Deer: Thrifted- $2
White Frame: Garage Sale- $1
Gray Paint: Home Depot Oops Paint- $5
Couch on the right: Aunt- $200
Slipcover On Couch On Right: From a friend- $0
Buck: Mr. Liv- $? Does this count? Hunting is expensive... Mounts are expensive... Hmmm.

Work with things that you find or have in your home already!
Our local consignment shop clears things out for $1 after they've been there a while. I keep my eyes open for those deals and grab them up. 
These wall flowers are the first set I ever made, using found materials. Almost every person who walked into my living room commented on them, and told me I could sell them. So, I added them to my shop and well, I do sell them now! :) 

P.S. Those are just Hot Wheels cars in that bowl. :)


So my dears, everything (decor, not the kids!) that you see in these pictures cost me a grand total of: $501.99. That's it! And I am perfectly happy with it. 
Just like My Bedroom, I had to wait for each piece. I also had to deal with ugly stuff while I waited. But it is worth it! I can have a lovely place that I enjoy looking at, without going into debt. And you can too! It just takes patience. And lots of hunting around. :)

Next room up is my dining room... keep your eyes open for that!

Thanks for stopping by!!
Sylvie

Disclaimer: I did not include The Buck in the decor price... This is because it was not bought as a decor piece for me. It was Mr. Liv's. And it was hiding on the stair wall for years before I decided to embrace it and add it to my decor. Also, it would be hard to figure out an exact cost. There is all his hunting clothes, deer tags, bow and arrows, etc.. plus taxidermy! So. You get the point. ;)